So that's the end. I'm throwing in the towel, just a week and a half short of the marathon. While I am extremely disappointed to not be able to run the marathon, I think I would be even more depressed if I went and couldn't finish. Or worse I might be in pain for 26.2 miles. Or even worse, I might do permanent damage, although my physical therapist did not think that likely.
I am upset with myself that I haven't kept up with my core workouts and strength training that my PT recommended last summer. Keeping my core in better shape might have led to a better outcome this season. Heck, I haven't even kept up with the 4 key stretches and the 5 key strength training exercise in the FIRST running program.
I can make a lot of excuses, with the primary one being that I changed jobs and moved in the middle of the season. Shouldn't have mattered, but I let it. I lost some training time with all the things I had to be doing related to the two big changes. And when I left my last job, I was no longer near my stand-by gym where I did my cross-training and yoga. The gym by my new job is crappy. So I hardly ever went to the gym. I hardly ever did yoga. I don't know why I stopped with the strength training and the stretching. I used my foam roller and the stick. But in the end I just caused myself problems by being lazy.
So at any rate, I am of course again going to swear to myself that I will do core workouts. I am going to take some rest time. Maybe I was just tired of being on a training schedule. I've been following one for nearly 6 months straight now. Even if I did only keep up with 3 days of it a week.
I'm going to move on to my summer goals - signing up for TNT cycling, training for a 39.3 mile breast cancer walk, and maybe a tri or two. And of course strength training! And yoga! I don't know where I'm going to find the time for all that.
I only take solace in the fact that at least I'm missing a crappy out-and-back marathon instead of the real Big Sur course. My PT suggested that maybe I'm not biomechanically cut-out for a marathon and that I consider sticking to halves. So we'll see.
I am concerned as she pointed out that apparently I have the start of bunions, my pain seems to be caused by either calcification or neuroma by the MTP, which is also present in my left foot, and it appears my second toes are developing hammertoe. Yeah - freaked myself out doing internet research last night. So I will be doing core workouts (someone make me) and I'm thinking maybe I will go see a podiatrist. I want to nip these potential foot problems in the bud before they become more of a problem. Then again, I kind of think my feet have always looked like this. Maybe basketball did it. Who knows?
But first my goal is to not second-guess myself. I'm sure I am doing the right thing for my body. Sure I could try resting from running until the race, and I thought about it, but I would be risking sheer misery on race day. And one thing I know for sure - there's no shortage of marathons in this country.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Week 17 Key Run #1
Today's goal:
Well I didn't get through it. Felt fine for a couple miles, then the right side of my foot started hurting a bit - obviously not running correctly. Finally after 4 1Ks, the pain started to come back near the 1st metatarsal. I headed home, and eventually stopped running after mile 5.
- 10-20 minute warm up
- 5 x 1K (400m RI)
- 10 minute cool down
Well I didn't get through it. Felt fine for a couple miles, then the right side of my foot started hurting a bit - obviously not running correctly. Finally after 4 1Ks, the pain started to come back near the 1st metatarsal. I headed home, and eventually stopped running after mile 5.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Week 16 Key Run #3
Well, 13.1 miles completed at a 11'30" pace. Yup, it took me 2:29, and I was supposed to be running at planned marathon pace or 9'52". Here's what went down: My foot started bothering me after a couple of miles, so I loosened my shoelaces, which seemed to help. Starting at mile 3, I took a one-minute walk break during every mile, basically to check in on my foot pain. I figured if it started to hurt while walking I would quit running. The walk breaks turned out to be great for me in general - I can't imagine running all those miles without them. I'm not sure if I got too much exercise yesterday or what, but I don't think I could have run at PMP foot pain or not. After 5 miles I started to feel like the pain was maybe more of a strain, so I tightened my shoelaces for support, which helped for awhile. I ran the next several miles without too much pain, although it came and went. I never felt a sharp pain until after mile 10, and I took a couple extra long walk breaks, finally walking completely for the last mile.
My first 4 splits were 10'30" or less (mile 2 was 9'55"), miles 5 through 9 were around 11'00" ranging from 10'48" to 11'08". And then miles 10-12 were nearly 12 minute miles (around 11'50"). I must have been running slow in addition to slow or longer walk breaks. And my last mile was nearly 17'00". Pretty depressing. If I kept this pace up, I could complete the marathon in 5 hours, but I can't imagine upholding this pace, as I got slower and in more pain throughout the run.
I'm not sure where to go from here. Either give up on the marathon or stop running (and just cross-train) until the marathon, hopefully giving it enough rest to get by. It's very frustrating. I wish I knew the answer - even if the answer was, you have a stress fracture - that means no marathon and no running for several weeks. That wouldn't even make me that said as I'm going to start cycling and need to do more yoga and strength training anyway. But this not knowing what to do part is difficult. I don't want to run the marathon if it's going to suck, but I also don't want to give up on it now if my injury's not really a big deal. This would be the second year in a row. Perhaps my body is telling me it doesn't want to run marathons.
My first 4 splits were 10'30" or less (mile 2 was 9'55"), miles 5 through 9 were around 11'00" ranging from 10'48" to 11'08". And then miles 10-12 were nearly 12 minute miles (around 11'50"). I must have been running slow in addition to slow or longer walk breaks. And my last mile was nearly 17'00". Pretty depressing. If I kept this pace up, I could complete the marathon in 5 hours, but I can't imagine upholding this pace, as I got slower and in more pain throughout the run.
I'm not sure where to go from here. Either give up on the marathon or stop running (and just cross-train) until the marathon, hopefully giving it enough rest to get by. It's very frustrating. I wish I knew the answer - even if the answer was, you have a stress fracture - that means no marathon and no running for several weeks. That wouldn't even make me that said as I'm going to start cycling and need to do more yoga and strength training anyway. But this not knowing what to do part is difficult. I don't want to run the marathon if it's going to suck, but I also don't want to give up on it now if my injury's not really a big deal. This would be the second year in a row. Perhaps my body is telling me it doesn't want to run marathons.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Week 16 XT #1 and 2 (sort of)
I had a realization yesterday (I'm slow, I realize) that perhaps my leg problems are stemming from the fact that I haven't done much yoga since leaving my old job, where I had a gym across the street. Silly excuse I know, but I haven't been a fan of the Berkeley gym so rarely go. I do have a yoga DVD, which I try to do every so often, but last time I did it a few weeks ago, my plantar fascitis was hurting my left foot so bad that I couldn't continue - this video is power yoga so I was continually in downward dog pose or some related one that didn't feel too good on my arch. Probably because I have become so inflexible that I can no longer get my heels on the ground.
Oops. At any rate, today I pulled the yoga DVD out and completed it (with a few breaks in between). My left foot (plantar fascitis) only hurt once briefly, and my right foot never hurt.
Matt and I later went for a bike ride to a bike shop so I could try out a road bike, and I rode that for awhile, and then rode home on my bike. Not much of a ride, but at least a bit of an aerobic work-out, so I can kind of count it for cross-training number 2.
I iced my foot with actual ice twice today, and it hasn't hurt unless I push on it. While that is better, it is clearly not fixed, so I don't have much hope that I will be able to get through my 13 mile run tomorrow. As a result, I'm just going to run through town to the Marina so I don't get stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere with a hurt foot.
Since I feel like the pain is more pin-point when I push in between my second and third toes, I'm worried again that it's a stress fracture, but perhaps there is some sort of ligament there that is irritated, since the irritation does not seem to be on the tendon at the moment. Tomorrow will be a big test.
Oops. At any rate, today I pulled the yoga DVD out and completed it (with a few breaks in between). My left foot (plantar fascitis) only hurt once briefly, and my right foot never hurt.
Matt and I later went for a bike ride to a bike shop so I could try out a road bike, and I rode that for awhile, and then rode home on my bike. Not much of a ride, but at least a bit of an aerobic work-out, so I can kind of count it for cross-training number 2.
I iced my foot with actual ice twice today, and it hasn't hurt unless I push on it. While that is better, it is clearly not fixed, so I don't have much hope that I will be able to get through my 13 mile run tomorrow. As a result, I'm just going to run through town to the Marina so I don't get stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere with a hurt foot.
Since I feel like the pain is more pin-point when I push in between my second and third toes, I'm worried again that it's a stress fracture, but perhaps there is some sort of ligament there that is irritated, since the irritation does not seem to be on the tendon at the moment. Tomorrow will be a big test.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Week 16 Key Run #2
Today's tempo run: 1 mile easy, 5 miles fast. I decided just to head home from work, taking a circuitous route. I didn't take the tempo run route I've been taking, as my legs always seem to be super tired on it, so I thought mentally I needed a change of scenery. Well - didn't help. Basically as soon as I tried to hit tempo pace, my calves seized up. I stopped multiple times to stretch them, which was super-painful. Anytime I approached any sort of incline, it was all I could do not to walk. After at least a mile or more at tempo, I finally got them loosened up.
I saw some beautiful houses on this route - I definitely don't live on the nicest street in the neighborhood! Unfortunately at mile 5 my foot started hurting, and I eventually quit early at mile 5.5 The pain was in my mid-foot and more dull and achy then the sharpness I feel like usually accompanies tendonitis. So of course I'm worried again that it's a stress fracture getting worse. I had tried wearing my old shoes today, because both my body worker and doctor wondered if my new shoes were causing problems. Obviously not. Perhaps they are actually too worn out. Not sure which pair I'll wear this weekend (maybe the in-between pair, although it might be a moot point if I can't get past 5 miles either way). The doctor didn't order x-rays, because he said he should be able to find a stress fracture by pushing on the bone without pushing on the tendon. There were a few tender spots, but not much worse at all than my left foot, and not in a pin-point location.
So anyway, I'm icing the foot right now, will be doing some more stretching of my legs, and will be doing some internet research to see how I can fix my muscles. Perhaps I'm lacking Potassium or something silly like that?
Cross your fingers for me please.
I saw some beautiful houses on this route - I definitely don't live on the nicest street in the neighborhood! Unfortunately at mile 5 my foot started hurting, and I eventually quit early at mile 5.5 The pain was in my mid-foot and more dull and achy then the sharpness I feel like usually accompanies tendonitis. So of course I'm worried again that it's a stress fracture getting worse. I had tried wearing my old shoes today, because both my body worker and doctor wondered if my new shoes were causing problems. Obviously not. Perhaps they are actually too worn out. Not sure which pair I'll wear this weekend (maybe the in-between pair, although it might be a moot point if I can't get past 5 miles either way). The doctor didn't order x-rays, because he said he should be able to find a stress fracture by pushing on the bone without pushing on the tendon. There were a few tender spots, but not much worse at all than my left foot, and not in a pin-point location.
So anyway, I'm icing the foot right now, will be doing some more stretching of my legs, and will be doing some internet research to see how I can fix my muscles. Perhaps I'm lacking Potassium or something silly like that?
Cross your fingers for me please.
Week 16 Key Run #1
Today's goal:
I went to my body worker on Tuesday who worked on my calf, which seemed to help my foot. Then I saw the doctor this morning, and he agreed that I had probably developed some extensor tendonitis and should keep stretching, icing, and running. I liked my doctor - he has a background in sports medicine and seemed to know what he is talking about. However, I'm still rather perplexed as to how I'm supposed to run without pain. Ah well. I'll try to get through the marathon and then have a rest.
Shockingly, today's workout did not bother my foot! I avoided uphills, walking up the big hill, and the rest was either flat or down. I could tell right about as I was near home, around mile 5.5 that my foot was likely about to start hurting, so I finished at the right time.
The track workout itself was pretty good. I took about a 3 minute rest in between the 3rd and 4th 800s as I was having trouble getting a full breath and starting to freak out about not having my inhaler. Looks like according to Nike Plus I was hitting somewhere around 8'22" give or take a lot on my paces, which isn't too bad, although the track isn't as long as it should be.
Overall, I was thrilled that my foot didn't hurt (although 5.5 miles does not a marathon make) and satisfied with my performance.
- 10-20 minute warm-up
- 6x800 (1:30 RI)
- 10 minute cool-down
I went to my body worker on Tuesday who worked on my calf, which seemed to help my foot. Then I saw the doctor this morning, and he agreed that I had probably developed some extensor tendonitis and should keep stretching, icing, and running. I liked my doctor - he has a background in sports medicine and seemed to know what he is talking about. However, I'm still rather perplexed as to how I'm supposed to run without pain. Ah well. I'll try to get through the marathon and then have a rest.
Shockingly, today's workout did not bother my foot! I avoided uphills, walking up the big hill, and the rest was either flat or down. I could tell right about as I was near home, around mile 5.5 that my foot was likely about to start hurting, so I finished at the right time.
The track workout itself was pretty good. I took about a 3 minute rest in between the 3rd and 4th 800s as I was having trouble getting a full breath and starting to freak out about not having my inhaler. Looks like according to Nike Plus I was hitting somewhere around 8'22" give or take a lot on my paces, which isn't too bad, although the track isn't as long as it should be.
Overall, I was thrilled that my foot didn't hurt (although 5.5 miles does not a marathon make) and satisfied with my performance.
Week 15 Summary
This week I accomplished:
- 3 Key Runs totaling around 27.5 miles
- 1 swimming session
Week 15 Key Run #3
Well this was supposed to be the big one - 20 miles. We were on vacation in Hotlanta, and I picked out a fabulous trail for running - the Silver Comet. It's a rails to trails project. The multi-use path starts in a suburb north of Atlanta and apparently runs some 90 miles to the Alabama border. That's pretty awesome. Matt, his brother, and his brother in law woke up super early with me, drove me the start, and arranged to meet me 20 miles later. Unfortunately my foot had other plans.
It started bothering me about mile 4, so I decided to tape it for support since I had a lot of miles to go. I figured since it hurt when I raised my big toe, I should try to keep my big toe from raising too much. This helped for awhile, and I added more tape around mile 9 or 10. But by mile 11 or 12, it was really starting to bother me. It kept getting sharper and more painful. I tried taking the tape off, but it didn't help. Finally at mile 14 I asked Matt to come pick me up early - I completed about 14.5 miles, at least one of them walking.
What really disappointed me is that otherwise I felt like 20 miles would have been easy. I wasn't really even tired. Perhaps it's because of my multiple bathroom stops and stops to tape up. But my legs felt pretty dang good. Too bad about my foot.
It started bothering me about mile 4, so I decided to tape it for support since I had a lot of miles to go. I figured since it hurt when I raised my big toe, I should try to keep my big toe from raising too much. This helped for awhile, and I added more tape around mile 9 or 10. But by mile 11 or 12, it was really starting to bother me. It kept getting sharper and more painful. I tried taking the tape off, but it didn't help. Finally at mile 14 I asked Matt to come pick me up early - I completed about 14.5 miles, at least one of them walking.
What really disappointed me is that otherwise I felt like 20 miles would have been easy. I wasn't really even tired. Perhaps it's because of my multiple bathroom stops and stops to tape up. But my legs felt pretty dang good. Too bad about my foot.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Week 15 Key Run #2
Today's goal: 8 miles at 9'47". Nailed it! I kind of cheated because I ran some downhills at the beginning I didn't have to go back up, but I figured I made up for it in the gale force winds out at Cesar Chavez State Park. For some reason, to me, forecasts of rain means let's go out to the Bay! And when I was running down from the lab and saw the huge choppiness of the bay, I still didn't think, gosh I wonder if it will be windy on all that in-fill out there. No, I plowed ahead, heading more and more into a headwind.
But, the park was beautiful! I remembered the crazy sea is one of the things I love about California (and Ireland). It was so blustery at one point it literally stopped me in my tracks (while I was running) and I laughed out loud. It was so much fun! NikePlus brought back the mile splits, and only my first three miles were actually under 9'47", while the other 5 were above it. No matter. I'm actually pretty okay with doing a 9'57" mile in that kind of craziness. Seriously - I stopped to get a drink at the fountain and the wind blew the water stream out of the fountain and on to me. It was that windy.
My plantar fascitis wasn't too bad, just twinged now and then, but around mile 6 the mysterious pain in my right foot returned - hadn't felt that since the 18 mile run. Guess the new shoes haven't fixed the problem. Alas.
But, the park was beautiful! I remembered the crazy sea is one of the things I love about California (and Ireland). It was so blustery at one point it literally stopped me in my tracks (while I was running) and I laughed out loud. It was so much fun! NikePlus brought back the mile splits, and only my first three miles were actually under 9'47", while the other 5 were above it. No matter. I'm actually pretty okay with doing a 9'57" mile in that kind of craziness. Seriously - I stopped to get a drink at the fountain and the wind blew the water stream out of the fountain and on to me. It was that windy.
My plantar fascitis wasn't too bad, just twinged now and then, but around mile 6 the mysterious pain in my right foot returned - hadn't felt that since the 18 mile run. Guess the new shoes haven't fixed the problem. Alas.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Week 15 XT#1
Well I was lazy yesterday and was rewarded. Today it was warmer and the sun was hot - lovely day for a swim! I headed over to Golden Bear Pool on the Clark Kerr Campus right by the dirt track I run on. I had never been there before but it's $5 for a day pass, so I thought I'd check it out. Arrived at 5:15 and it closed to open swim at 6, but given that I hadn't swum since September (!), I figured that would be plenty of time. And it was!
Totally lost track of how many laps I swam, but I think it was a decent amount. Did a few laps of kicking as well although it's miserable. We'll see how sore my arms are tomorrow! On the bright side, hopefully I gave my plantar fascitis a bit of a break. It needs to be ready for 8 miles tomorrow!
Totally lost track of how many laps I swam, but I think it was a decent amount. Did a few laps of kicking as well although it's miserable. We'll see how sore my arms are tomorrow! On the bright side, hopefully I gave my plantar fascitis a bit of a break. It needs to be ready for 8 miles tomorrow!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Week 15 Key Run #1
Week 15! Holy crap!
Today's goal:
Anyway. I completed the work-out, but I felt like I was having breathing issues. My fast intervals seem to be an exercise in anaerobic activity, and I certainly don't think they are supposed to be. I've been taking my allergy and asthma medication, so I don't know what's going on. But I hope it stops soon!
And since the RIs are 2 minutes easy, I was actually tricked into jogging them instead of walking. Well except for maybe a tiny bit. However, I just glanced at my calendar, and next week's key run is 6 x 800 with only 1:30 RI. I have no idea how that's going to happen. I'll be in the anaerobic zone the whole time unless I suddenly start being able to breathe again.
My arch was only irritating me a tiny bit during the run (as in, I could feel it on occasion but no sharp pains), but it started bothering me more after I got home and sat down. So I decided to go to the pool today, but I chickened out of even that and am instead home resting. With less than a month to go before the marathon. Alas.
Today's goal:
- 10-20 minute warm-up
- 5 x (2 minute fast/2 minute easy)
- 10 minute cool-down
Anyway. I completed the work-out, but I felt like I was having breathing issues. My fast intervals seem to be an exercise in anaerobic activity, and I certainly don't think they are supposed to be. I've been taking my allergy and asthma medication, so I don't know what's going on. But I hope it stops soon!
And since the RIs are 2 minutes easy, I was actually tricked into jogging them instead of walking. Well except for maybe a tiny bit. However, I just glanced at my calendar, and next week's key run is 6 x 800 with only 1:30 RI. I have no idea how that's going to happen. I'll be in the anaerobic zone the whole time unless I suddenly start being able to breathe again.
My arch was only irritating me a tiny bit during the run (as in, I could feel it on occasion but no sharp pains), but it started bothering me more after I got home and sat down. So I decided to go to the pool today, but I chickened out of even that and am instead home resting. With less than a month to go before the marathon. Alas.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Week 14 Summary
This week I accomplished:
- 3 key runs totaling approximately 21 miles
- An additional 2 miles of running
- 1 pilates session
- 1 outdoor bike ride, around 15-16 miles
- 30+ minutes of activity on the Wii Fit :)
Week 14 XT#2
Today Matt and I headed out for a bike ride. We took the BART over to Lafayette to ride the Lafayette Moraga Regional Trail that I have run a couple times. A few miles in and my quads were already tired. I think we did maybe 16 miles or so in all, with the return trip being mostly downhill - luckily, or my quads might have just quit functioning.
It was a beautiful day for a bike ride! I wish it were this temperature all the time. And hopefully it was some good cross training, although my left arch is bothering me a bit now.
Speaking of, I went to have body work done on Friday, and she told me to roll my calf and buy new shoes. I had been debating buying new shoes since I was thinking of changing types, and I was hoping I could pull off the marathon without having to buy shoes. But I guess not. Anyway, I discovered that Saucony had gone to a new version of my shoe (luckily I didn't buy them at Transports the other day because that salesman did not bother to tell me it was a new version). So I searched online and found the old version on sale at See Jane Run. Since there's a store down the street, I headed over, and they had two of my size in stock! So I bought them both - it was a steal of a deal and I didn't want to risk the new version not fitting. So now the task is to break in a new pair of shoes in less than a month. Oops.
It was a beautiful day for a bike ride! I wish it were this temperature all the time. And hopefully it was some good cross training, although my left arch is bothering me a bit now.
Speaking of, I went to have body work done on Friday, and she told me to roll my calf and buy new shoes. I had been debating buying new shoes since I was thinking of changing types, and I was hoping I could pull off the marathon without having to buy shoes. But I guess not. Anyway, I discovered that Saucony had gone to a new version of my shoe (luckily I didn't buy them at Transports the other day because that salesman did not bother to tell me it was a new version). So I searched online and found the old version on sale at See Jane Run. Since there's a store down the street, I headed over, and they had two of my size in stock! So I bought them both - it was a steal of a deal and I didn't want to risk the new version not fitting. So now the task is to break in a new pair of shoes in less than a month. Oops.
Week 14 Key Run #3
So short "long" run today: 10 miles. However, it was supposed to be at planned marathon pace (that's 9'52" for me). Well, I finished at a pace of 10'35". Totally blew it! I'm going to have to come to terms with the fact that I haven't been training hard enough to pull my PMP off in the race. Anyway, my goal should just be to finish.
I did run on a hilly course - Nimitz Way, the home of the Tilden Tough Ten. But considering Big Sur will also have hills, I certainly can't assume I will go faster there. However, I did conquer some massive hills in the first few miles of my 18 mile run last week and still managed to finish at 10 minute pace. So who knows. If I was going for speed, I would have been cross training and running my intervals on a real track, I suppose.
I did run on a hilly course - Nimitz Way, the home of the Tilden Tough Ten. But considering Big Sur will also have hills, I certainly can't assume I will go faster there. However, I did conquer some massive hills in the first few miles of my 18 mile run last week and still managed to finish at 10 minute pace. So who knows. If I was going for speed, I would have been cross training and running my intervals on a real track, I suppose.
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